Arsenal have tested the resolve of Barcelona by lodging a bid of about £8
million for David Villa.

Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said yesterday that he was interested in
signing only a top player before the transfer deadline tomorrow and it is
understood that Villa is his first choice, even though he admitted that
Barcelona have resisted selling the Spain forward. “We could do with top
quality, one more, but you have to find him,” Wenger said.

“Barcelona doesn’t want to sell David Villa. They have made that clear. You
respect the desire. If I say that somebody is